Worm harness

As a 2nd year walleye fisherman, I’m still new to the game. I was wondering if any of you could tell me what size blades and beads and line to use when making my own worm harnesses. I have plenty of time to try and make some myself as I work outside and when it’s too cold i just can’t work so, I would like to try my hand at it. I did do very well on them at times last year and would like to experiment on colors of my choice and not the ones that are already pre-made. Any advice would be appreciated!!! Thanks in advance.

17# XT Trilene
1 - 1/0 hook
6 - 5mm beads
1 - #5 deep cut Colorado blade
18" overall length casting
36" overall length bottom bouncer
42" overall length trolling

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Originally Posted by PZeiler

17# XT Trilene
1 - 1/0 hook
6 - 5mm beads
1 - #5 deep cut Colorado blade
18" overall length casting
36" overall length bottom bouncer
42" overall length trolling

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Is there a reason or benefit of using only one hook? I’ve used some with 2 hooks and even treble hooks. I know I’m opening up a can of worms, but I’m just trying to get educated!

Casting my opinion and again opinion is one hook all all the way. I worked on charter boats during summer time in the high school years and some after. I've always prided myself in being a good caster. With one hook you only need a inch or so of worm. Sometimes no worm. I will say with no worm very few will bite again if you drop back to them when you miss. I couldn't tell you how many times customers would put a whole worm on a two hook cast and catch one, little did they know I watched the worm rip to pieces and fly every which way with their wild cast.

I will also say that I rarely ever didn't have a number 3 or 4 hammered gold Indiana blade on. Again preference. Wouldn't get into all the fancy colors out there. Yes they work but day in and day out a standard gold or copper will keep up with any custom color. Make sure you pay attention where in the water column your catching. Cast and do counting method. Cast 1000 1002 ect you catch a fish at a 8 count repeat. Dont be afraid to try different counts even a "splash and go" cast and retrieve right away. Fishing "the swing" if your boat drifts sideways cast straight off the back. As the boat drifts your lure will swing and just as it changes directions or starts coming up a lot of strikes happen.

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Originally Posted by loomis82

I will also say that I rarely ever didn't have a number 3 or 4 hammered gold Indiana blade on. Again preference. Wouldn't get into all the fancy colors out there. Yes they work but day in and day out a standard gold or copper will keep up with any custom color. Make sure you pay attention where in the water column your catching. Cast and do counting method. Cast 1000 1002 ect you catch a fish at a 8 count repeat. Dont be afraid to try different counts even a "splash and go" cast and retrieve right away. Fishing "the swing" if your boat drifts sideways cast straight off the back. As the boat drifts your lure will swing and just as it changes directions or starts coming up a lot of strikes happen.

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I second the advice about gold blades. I always have them in the water when using harnesses and they always catch fish and usually out catch any other color. I preferred hammered gold, Colorado blades for casting and Colorado or willow blades for trolling. I use 2 no 1 octopus hooks on mine.

blade size will also change depending on trolling or casting. we use alot of willow blades on ours when we troll. but speed is part of the factor......the willow blades work better and spin right at the summer trolling speeds in mid 2 mph, sometimes at those speeds some of the bigger blades blow out and don't spin right. our trolling harness use 3 hooks. 2 singles and a treble at the end. some days we do shorten the worm up if we are getting short hits.

and some times it's just which day it is.

dont forget also do you use 1 blade or multiple?????

the endless questions

hey man quick question.. I do use the gold or copper Colorado blades... but my question is... what color of beads do you prefer? I try different color beads but don't know if bead color even matters?? thoughts??

Attachment 5364

Attachment 5365

A collection of beads and blades I use

Also a casting harness with the our best colors last year

Been trying casting harness for 20yrs and trolling ones for around 10yrs.The Seaguar 20lb flourocarbon is the gold standard.Use it and you won't go back.Casting blade is the #4 Colorado hammered gold with a lip.I use mostly 2mm gold and a few green beads and a double gamakatsu octopus size 2 hooks.Tie them 2ft long.I always use a quick change clevis on all harnesses.The trolling harnesses are 6ft long leader I tie right into rig.Use 6mm beads of mostly orange,pink and neon yellow.We use both double willow rigs and #5 and #6 colorado blades.The #2 tadpoles divers work great for trolling harness and we put a swivel on the trolling harness to keep the twist to minimum.Last season the 2015 fish preferred the scorpion spoons over our harnesses,so did not run the harnesses nearly as often.Oh yeah,we would do a double hook on trolling harness about 3.5" apart.Number #1 gamakatsu on front and went to a rear treble several years ago.Good luck.

Fantastic advice Bob! Thanks for all the help here! I myself being the rookie walleye guy, appreciate all the helpful information you guys share. This is a great forum and great people. Hope to see you guys on the water soon!!!

i use gold 90 percent of the time try some white beads with your gold beads

Thank you Bob for the advice on what you use for the casting and trolling situations.
Bruce

Ur welcome guys.I have bought and tried a lot of different color blades over the years and the #4 hammered gold Colorado with a lip always outfishes everything else when casting.I have read reports from CoVanna where a copper blade worked better for them,I've tried them but they have not outfishef my gold.You should see the bag of different colors #4 Colorado I have bought and don't use.I really do not know why the different color blades work better for trolling though.Our go to colors we start for trolling is a #5 purple boxer Colorado with copper back.The color on front is purple with several black dots and a small corner color of chartreuse.We also will run half double willow blades.The best color willows have been antifreeze color on front and back with some orange in it.Another willow color that works is a purple front with a pink back.Yeah,getting the itch to get out fishing again.Oh yeah,the harness bite usually starts when the water temp reach 50 degrees.That usually happens during the first half of May.So hoping we have some stable spring weather this year that doesn't muddy up the water.When we finished our season casting in October last year,those 2015 fish were finally averaging 2lbs a fish.This year,I'm thinking they will be between 4-2lbs in size.Perfect size.

Once again Bob, I took notes on those blades. I am going to get some of those blades you said you have had good success with.
Bruce

I have bought those custom painted blades at fisherman's wharf in downtown Port Clinton.Bet they have a pretty good selection since last season was a better spoon bite.

Gold and red beads are my favorite with the gold blades. I also use red hooks on almost all of the harnesses. Just a personal preference but they've always worked so never felt the need to change.

I forgot to mention that I bought some Cabela's holographic Colorado blades in Red Flame pattern and they have been almost as good as the gold. I tie them with a mix of purple, orange and pink beads (thanks to my wife for her love of color-coordinating) and the walleye love them but I don't catch very much junk with them. I also have some of them in firetiger but all I seem to catch with that color is white bass. They're also pretty cheap compared to some of the custom blades, you get 5 for $2.49.